Monthly Archives: February 2015

Leslie Mackie discusses Macrina Bakery’s auspicious start and the buzz surrounding SWFE in an interview with TableTalk Northwest last year.

If you haven’t scooped up tickets for the Seattle Wine and Food Experience (SWFE) yet, you had better act fast! VIP Tickets to Sunday’s event are sold out and general admission spots are going fast. This annual culinary event of epic proportion features the Northwest’s best food paired with the finest wine, beer and cider from around the world.

As you sample your way through Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, be sure to stop our table in Les Dames d’Escoffier Alley for a bite of Seeded Sardinian Flatbread layered with Smoked Salmon Mousse, pickled slaw and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

In addition to tasting food and beverages from more than 200 vendors, this year SWFE invites you to taste reserve caliber wines with QFC wine stewards, learn how to cook with beer, refine your sense of smell during the Wente Vineyard Aroma Experience, and guide your palate to the perfect wine with help form Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.

“We want guests to walk away with education about the beverage and food products they encounter at the event,” adds Jamie.

Les Dames d’Escoffier Seattle, this year’s event beneficiary, is a wonderful non-profit organization of women leaders in the culinary world whose focus is on raising scholarship funds for women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, while also supporting community outreach and local sustainable-agriculture projects.

Instead of scrambling to find a last-minute Valentine’s Day dinner reservation, whip up a delicious brunch for your Valentine – or your favorite single friends. Our Mini Cherry Brioche is only available for a limited time and it makes a wonderful French toast. Topped with warm maple syrup and rich brandy whipped cream, it’s a sweet way to start the day whether you’re happily single or blissfully coupled.

Preparing the brandy whipped cream:
In a medium bowl, place the cream, brandy, sugar and vanilla. Mix with a whisk or hand-mixer until the mixture holds its shape, about 2 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.

Preparing the French toast:
1. In a medium bowl, place the eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, cream, cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk to combine. Pour custard into a shallow baking pan.

2. Cut the brioche into 1-inch thick slices. Dredge each slice in the custard, making sure all sides are evenly coated.

3. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, warm the vegetable oil and butter. Lay the brioche slices in the pan and cook until both sides are golden brown.

4. Divide French toast slices among 2 plates. Serve with a drizzle of pure maple syrup and a dollop of brandy whipped cream.

One of the sweetest events of the year is just around the corner – and we aren’t talking about Valentine’s Day! We’re getting ready to make mouths water at the seventh annual Pike Chocofest.

Crafted with beer and chocolate lovers in mind, Chocofest covers three levels of Pike’s Microbrewery Museum this Sunday, February 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. As you sip and savor your way through the event, stop by our table where you will find our delicious Mini Cherry Brioche with savory barbecue pulled pork. For the perfect bite, pair it with a sip of a sweeter, full-flavored beer like Pike Kilt Lifter.

In addition to welcoming nearly 100 food and drink purveyors, Pike Brewing Company is debuting its Chocolate Cask Beer Festival. This new section of Chocofest features about 20 breweries that will incorporate chocolate into naturally carbonated cask beer.

Tickets for Chocofest are on sale now for $50, which includes all the food you want, a commemorative tasting glass, 10 drink tickets, live music and discounted parking. All proceeds from this event benefit the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (PSA), an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the waters of the Puget Sound. This year, Chocofest will also include the Save the Sound Valentine Store where guests can support PSA by buying treats for their loved ones.